"The emotion of this topic needs to go away and the politics of the topic needs to go away,” Cress said. "And we just need to see an evidence-based decision which we have the science that backs that a ban is not something that's going to secure our blood system — so just remove the ban.”

Cress also says a five year ban just doesn’t provide any safety benefits.

"The evidence clearly shows decreasing the ban just to five years provides no increased safety for the blood services supply and in fact still contributes to stereotyping of HIV transmission in the country," Cress explained.

Kristopher Wells is a researcher at the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies at the University of Alberta. He says the issue has become personal.

"I'm not really sure why we're having this debate here in the 21st century about whether a gay man should be able to donate blood or not," Wells said. “It's disappointing and makes me feel as though I’m still a second class citizen in my own country.”

Health Canada still has to approve the changes, which will likely happen in the next few months.

If approved, Canada will follow other countries such as Australia and the UK — that have already reduced their lifetime bans.

But Canadian Blood Services says it’s not a good idea to lift the ban yet.

“We don't have sufficient evidence to be able to convince either Health Canada, frankly, the recipients of blood products, that that's a safe thing to do at the moment," Dana Devine, vice president of medical, scientific and research affairs said.

Wells disagrees.

"Doesn't matter whose blood it is, when you need blood, there should be blood available," Wells said.

Also on The Huffington Post

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Countries' Policies On Gay Male Blood Donations

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Country: United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales)
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who haven't had sexual contact with another man for a year are eligible to give blood.

Country: South Africa
Policy on MSM blood donors: As of 2014, anyone is in a monogamous relationship can give blood. Anyone of any sexual orientation who has multiple partners or is in a new relationship must wait six months.

Country: Poland
Policy on MSM blood donors: No ban. People of all sexual orientation involved in any kind of sexual activity — as long as they are confident about their safe sex practices — are welcome to donate blood.

Country: Australia
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who haven't had sexual contact with another man for a period of one year are eligible to give blood. In addition, women who have had sexual contact with men who have had sex with other men may also give blood after a one-year period.

Country: Japan
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who haven't had sexual contact with another man for a year are eligible to give blood.

Country Greece
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who have had sexual contact with other men are not permitted to donate blood.

Country: Sweden
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who haven't had sexual contact with another man for a year are eligible to give blood.

Country: New Zealand
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who haven't had sexual contact with another man for 12 months are eligible to give blood.

Country: France
Policy on MSM blood donors: As of 2016, gay men who have been sexually inactive for a year can donate red cells, platelets and plasma. Gay men who have been sexually inactive for four months can give their plasma, as can people in monogamous relationships.

Country: Mexico
Policy on MSM blood donors: No ban. Men who have had sexual contact with other man are eligible to give blood.

Country:Argentina
Policy on MSM blood donors: No ban. Men who have had sexual contact with other man are eligible to give blood.

Country: Italy
Policy on MSM blood donors: No ban. Men who have had sexual contact with other man are eligible to give blood.

Country: Brazil
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who haven't had sexual contact with another man for a year are eligible to give blood.

Country: USA
Policy on MSM blood donors: The FDA has just lifted its ban on gay men donating blood. Now, men who haven't had sexual contact with another man for a year are eligible to give blood.

Country: Uruguay
Policy on MSM blood donors: No ban. Men who have had sexual contact with other man are not restricted from giving blood.

Country: Belgium
Policy on MSM blood donors: There is an indefinite ban on blood donations for men who have had sexual contact with other men.

Country: Hungary
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who haven't had sexual contact with another man for a year are eligible to give blood.

Country: Venezuela
Policy on MSM blood donors: There is an indefinite ban on blood donations from men who have had sexual contact with other men. Women may give blood, however donors are requested to complete a "Yes/No" questionnaire about his/her sexual life that may inquire about sexual details.

Country: Israel
Policy on MSM blood donors: Men who have had sexual contact with other men from 1977 onward are not permitted to donate blood.

Country: Spain
Policy on MSM blood donors: No ban. Men who have had sexual contact with other man are eligible to give blood.